Smartphones can do a lot more than make phone calls, and as the mobile experience has developed over the years, mobile carriers offer more services than just calls and texts. Of course, that means the average mobile bill doesn't cost just a few dollars, so it's great to grab a discount wherever you can.
For Verizon users, this could be done by setting up Auto Pay for automatic monthly deductions from your payment method of choice. However, there's been a recent change to the requirements for that discount, and now, only certain payment methods will qualify.
The Discount Is Still There, But Only Through Certain Payment Methods
As a Verizon user, you can get a $10 discount on your mobile bill every month simply by setting up Auto Pay. If you'd rather not have any interruptions to your mobile service, this is basically a win-win situation. Unfortunately, a recent change means that Auto Pay may not be as convenient as it used to be.
Previously, you could pay with a bank account or any payment card and get a discount. You can still pay with a bank account, so if that's what you did before, carry on — you won't have to bother with anything. However, on the card side of things, you can't just use any card. If you want that $10 discount each month, you have to pay with a Verizon Visa Card. Other cards will work, but they are no longer eligible for the discount.
On the plus side, if you were using a non-Verizon debit card for payments before February 14th, you will remain eligible for the discount for some time, though the exact time span isn't certain.
What's The Rationale Behind Removing Some Payment Methods?
Companies don't make changes like this for the sole purpose of annoying their consumers (though that is a major side effect), so why exactly has Verizon decided to limit the payment methods you can use to take advantage of their monthly discount?
There's no official statement, but the best guess is that Verizon is trying to cut out the fees associated with card processing. Bank account transfers are slower but are usually free. Verizon's card probably has lower fees associated, if any, which would explain why it is still a supported option to get that discount.
How Do I Set Up Auto Pay On Verizon?
Auto Pay has had benefits attached to it for a long time. If you haven't already set up Auto Pay, but that $10 discount sounds like a juicy deal, you should set things up as soon as possible. But hey, if you don't know how I'll show you what you need to do.
- The easiest way to set up Auto Pay is by using the My Verizon app on your smartphone.
- Tap the Account icon in the bottom bar.
- Select Bills.
- Now, choose “Enroll in Auto Pay”, and then tap “Get started”.
- Choose the payment method you want to use or add a new one. Again, remember that only a bank account and a Verizon Visa Card can be used to get a discount.
- Follow the prompts that come up based on your payment method.
- Press “Accept & Enroll”.
And that's it! You can now let your mobile bills handle themselves while getting a sweet discount in the process. Those unlimited plans aren't cheap, after all!
